DALLAS — One of the parting gifts on Fan Appreciation Night at American Airlines Center was a tiny replica of the Mavericks’ first gym, Reunion Arena. Or Folsom’s Folly, as it was called when the mayor, Bobby Folsom, got it built before there was an NBA franchise to call it home. If only his critics could have seen what was coming. The current mayor couldn’t build a two-bit coalition. Hard to ...

Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd watches the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks at American Airlines Center on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Dallas.

Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News/TNS

DALLAS — One of the parting gifts on Fan Appreciation Night at American Airlines Center was a tiny replica of the Mavericks’ first gym, Reunion Arena. Or Folsom’s Folly, as it was called when the mayor, Bobby Folsom, got it built before there was an NBA franchise to call it home. If only his critics could have seen what was coming. The current mayor couldn’t build a two-bit coalition.

Hard to tell sometimes if the biggest priority of the new owners is a decent roster around Cooper Flagg or yet another arena, this one with one-armed bandits built right into the seats. The lottery prospects didn’t get any better with Sunday’s romp over the Bulls, dropping the Mavs from a sixth-place tie with Memphis to eighth. Then again there’s only so much you can do when the opponent refuses to engage.

Anyway, now that this mess is finally over, I have a few personnel questions for the new general manager.

Just as soon as they hire one.

First and foremost, has anyone asked Kyrie Irving if he wants to come back on a team without Luka Doncic or Anthony Davis, the presence of the would-be Rookie of the Year notwithstanding?

If you had to pick a point guard from Darius Acuff Jr., Kingston Flemings or Keaton Wagler, who would it be?

Is it a requirement that at least one of the Mavs’ centers play no more than 55 games?

Were P.J. Washington’s struggles mostly injury-related, or is he a bad fit next to the erstwhile ROY?

Speaking of which, can you find a few shooters to fit around Flagg?

Does Klay Thompson want any more of this?

Does anyone?

And, finally, at least for now, is Jason Kidd the man for the renovation ahead?

As a matter of fact, someone else asked Kidd that very same question Sunday night during the Mavs’ exit interviews.

“Why do I think I’m the right guy?” he asked, then promptly listed his credentials. Noted that he’s not only been around awhile, he’s been to the Western Conference finals twice and the NBA Finals once. Actually said he comes to work each day and doesn’t complain. Mostly true, in fact, except when Mark Cuban threw him under the bus over his culpability in the Luka Doncic trade. He didn’t love that.

What he loves, he said, is winning. Hates losing, which made this a real slog. Also cited his experience with teams that have gone through a bumpy sale, a bonus these days.

Bottom line?

“I believe I can help us get to the finish line,” he said, “and that’s to win the championship.”

The new GM may have other ideas, but, at least for the foreseeable future, I see no reason why Kidd shouldn’t remain on the job. The Mavs could use some continuity, and not just because it’d be nice to preserve a link to the good ol’ days.

Frankly, it’s not clear how many of the Mavs will be back. Or how many the new GM will want. No matter who they end up with from the lottery, Kyrie needs to remain a priority. He’s still a wonderful talent, a generational closer and, by all accounts, a leader. Even if your target is a reload, not a rebuild, a team built around a teenager can use a Hall of Fame mentor as a teammate.

Kidd clearly wants Kyrie back, as he should, but is the point guard still willing? He didn’t hang around Sunday to answer questions. For all we know, he might prefer to finish his career on a team with a straighter shot to a title.

If you ask me, the keepers are Kyrie, Flagg, Dereck Lively II and Max Christie. I might be talked into Marvin Bagley III, who could give them a stretch big. It’d be hard to give up on Washington, but they need shooters, and that’s not his strong point. Same with Naji Marshall. He was great as a fill-in scorer, but his range is limited.

The biggest problem with the Mavs — other than Luka no longer works here — is they were 26th in the league from distance. Until Flagg develops a long-range game, the Mavs need to space the floor to give him room to work. Which is why they need to pair him with a dynamic scorer from the draft.

As noted earlier in this space, Acuff would be the offensive answer, but he’s sorely limited defensively. Couldn’t play him next to Kyrie in the interim, either. Flemings is a better fit defensively, though questions remain about his shot.

Wagler, with the highest ceiling, might be the best choice of the three. If any are still, you know, available.

The only good to come from the Mavs’ season — besides Flagg’s play and the lottery pick — was the audition to find cheap talent. If Ryan Nembhard, John Poulakides, Moussa Cisse, Brandon Williams and Tyler Smith can fill some of the roles occupied by higher-priced teammates, it leaves more money to devote to a significant free agent.

All of which brings us back to the point about retaining Kidd. If you’re going to churn the roster, it makes sense to retain continuity at the top. For Flagg’s sake, if no one else’s. He endured Kidd’s crash course on running the offense and came out the other side a better player. Just the same, the Mavs don’t need to make his second season any harder on him than the first was.

In lieu of a full-time GM on hand Sunday, I asked Kidd what he wants Flagg to work on after leading the Mavs in everything except birthdays.

“The first thing is rest,” the head coach said. “Give him some time for R&R. Play some golf. Enjoy Maine.

“He’s got to give his mind and body a rest, because next year is gonna be a lot longer.”

Of course, that’s only if they get the kid more help. All it takes is good health, a little more lottery luck and a GM who knows what he’s doing. A lot to ask, but the Mavs are due, no?

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